Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the problems associated with the lack of flood insurance or incidences of under insurance in view of recent flooding events and his plans regarding same. [44433/09]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Finance the discussions he has planned with the Irish Insurance Federation regarding the problems associated with the lack of flood insurance or incidences of under insurance; and if he will report on any such discussions and any proposals emerging therefrom for dealing with these problems. [44434/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 81 together as the questions cover the same general area.

A number of Government Departments and agencies have responsibility for emergency planning functions. In the current flooding situation, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is chairing an Emergency Response Coordination Committee which meets on a daily basis to handle the current emergency situation. I am informed that his Department will shortly ask the local authorities for reports on the impact of the flooding and an assessment of the remedial works required.

While actual funding requirements will not be known until the assessments are completed, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has provided supplementary funding of 10m euro to assist local authorities in meeting the exceptional costs associated with the current flooding crisis. In addition the Government has announced the provision of an initial sum of 10 million euro for emergency flood relief to be administered by the Community Welfare Division of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Department of Social and Family Affairs. A further 2 million euro has been provided for the agricultural sector.

When more complete information on the scale and cost of the damage arising becomes available, full consideration will be given to ways of meeting these costs, including if appropriate, making application to the EU for financial support. My Department has been in contact with the Commission to establish eligibility criteria and the scale of funding that might be available. I am also informed that the Joint Committee on European Affairs is travelling to Brussels on Friday, 4 December to meet with the Commissioner for Regional Policy, Mr. Pawe Samecki to discuss the flooding situation and opportunities for assistance from the EU under the EU Solidarity Fund.

Last Monday, Mr. John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and Dr. Martin Mansergh, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Finance with responsibility for the OPW, jointly published statutory planning guidelines on The Planning System and Flood Risk Management, which are aimed at ensuring a more consistent, rigorous and systematic approach to the avoidance and minimisation of potential future flood risk and to fully incorporate flood risk assessment and management into the planning system.

In relation to insurance, my Department has ongoing contacts with the insurance industry including the Irish Insurance Federation, and the problems associated with the lack of flood insurance or incidences of under insurance will be raised in future discussions. However, as the Deputy will be aware decisions by individual insurance companies on the provision of insurance cover and the price at which it is offered is a commercial matter based on the assessment an insurer makes of the risks involved and other commercial considerations.

The Government will consider this issue, which has been particularly highlighted by recent events and will discuss them with the insurance industry to see what options or possible solutions may be available. The outcome of these discussions will be further considered by the Government as part of its overall review of recent events. In the meantime, the Government will keep the matter under review.